Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: City Of Portsmouth Plans Inauguration On Monday
And check out Paul Hodes and The Blue Buddha Band on the Portsmouth Patch calendar
Good morning to you Portsmouth! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Meet Portsmouth’s newly inaugurated city leaders at City Hall Monday
- How a chaotic truck ride shut down Lafayette Road for hours
- What Portsmouth parents should know about NH’s new school rules
Also on today's calendar: Paul Hodes and The Blue Buddha Band and 6 more events.
Find out what's happening in Portsmouthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Portsmouthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Friday: Sunshine and breezy, with a high of 26 and low of 17 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
- Saturday: Partly sunny and breezy, temps: high: 26, low: 16.
- Sunday: Periods of clouds and sun, with a high of 26 and low of 6 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• City Of Portsmouth Plans Inauguration On Monday (patch.com) — Portsmouth residents are invited to City Hall on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, for the formal inauguration of the city council, school board, and police and fire commissions. The evening ceremony in the Eileen Dondero Foley Council Chambers will feature performances by Portsmouth High School musicians, an invocation and benediction from a local pastor, and light refreshments afterward. 
• Massachusetts man charged with 4 felonies after multiple crashes in Portsmouth (wmur.com) — Multiple crashes involving a truck in Portsmouth on Tuesday morning led to serious property damage, a two-hour closure of Lafayette Road, and felony charges for a Massachusetts driver. No injuries were reported, and Portsmouth police coordinated closely with Rye police and New Hampshire State Police. The suspect was released on bail and is due in court in March.
• Phone ban, funding and school choice top NH education stories of 2025 (seacoastonline.com) — New Hampshire’s new statewide school cell phone ban reshaped classrooms this year, including a bell-to-bell ban in Portsmouth schools. Lawmakers also expanded school choice and wrestled with funding, while a Supreme Court ruling pressured the legislature to boost per-pupil aid. Portsmouth families will feel these changes through phone-free school days, evolving enrollment options, and ongoing debates over how districts are funded.
📸 Around Portsmouth
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Portsmouth
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Paul Hodes and The Blue Buddha Band
Button Factory Stage, 909 Islington St, Portsmouth
8:00 am
Saturday January 3
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- CLASS: Intro to Drop Spinning Workshop (Beginner)
Strawbery Banke Museum , 14 Hancock Street , Portsmouth
10:00 am - HOLIDAY: Gingerbread Smash
Portsmouth Historical Society , 10 Middle Street , Portsmouth
1:00 pm - Nichinan Nights Happy Hour
Hotel Thaxter , 15 Middle St. , Portsmouth - FOOD: Sunday Brunch at SALT
SALT Kitchen and Bar
11:00 am - Exploring Our Way: Sensory Friendly Playtime
Children’s Museum of New Hampshire , 6 Washington Street , Dover
1:00 pm - Nichinan Nights Happy Hour
Hotel Thaxter , 15 Middle St. , Portsmouth - FOOD & BEVERAGE: Happy Hour at Toscana
Toscana , 3 Pleasant Street , Portsmouth
4:00 pm - Nichinan Nights Happy Hour
Hotel Thaxter , 15 Middle St. , Portsmouth
Saturday January 3
Sunday January 4
Monday January 5
Tuesday January 6
📣 Portsmouth Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- BEER WEEK: Fat Kid Culinary Food Specials at Loaded Question Brewing
Loaded Question Brewing
1:00 pm - Cardboard City
Langdon Library , 328 Nimble Hill Road , Newington
2:30 pm - FOOD & BEVERAGE: Happy Hour at Toscana
Toscana , 3 Pleasant Street , Portsmouth
4:00 pm - ART: Art 'Round Town Gallery Walk
Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Portsmouth, NH
5:00 pm
Friday January 2
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Portsmouth PatchAM possible:
- Dogtopia of North Hampton — (475) 338-3501
Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness - RSP Studio Custom Framing — (603) 978-6702
RSP Studio Custom Framing – for all your framing needs. - Total Basement Finishing, a Blackdog Affiliate — (603) 458-7962
Basement Remodeling Experts in NH, MA and ME - Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Should old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot In the days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear For auld lang syne We'll… (Nextdoor Sagamore/Little Harbor)
- Koniag, Inc. posted a job opening for Custodian, Second Shift in Portsmouth. Apply here.
- Ascensia Diabetes Care posted a job opening for Operator II - Manufacturing in Portsmouth. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Portsmouth here.
🗞 Nearby News
Hampton
Ok Portsmouth! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I just lost interest.
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